The Narada Gana Sabha mini-hall was packed to capacity, with eager listeners waiting for a vacant seat to hear Kruthi Vittal’s performance. Accompanied by vidwan Vittal Rangan on the violin and vidwan Patri Satish Kumar on the mridangam, the trio delivered a performance that left the audience spellbound.

Kruthi began the concert with a varnam in the raga Varamu composed by professor T. R. Subramanyam which set a serene mood for the morning. It was a Tamil Varnam in praise of Devi. The genius of the composer was evident through features like swaraksharams and poruttams. It was appreciable to introduce rare varnams like these to the audience.  It was followed by crisp rendition Tyagaraja’s Kuvalayadala Nayana in Natakurinji.

An enchanting and charming Shanmukhapriya, was presented in all its glory. Kruthi explored the raga with a depth that felt both soulful and intellectually stimulating. She rendered Patnam Subramanya Iyer’s Marivere Dikkevvaraiyya, choosing the line Sannutaanga Sree Venkatesha Neevu for an expansive niraval. The subsequent kalpana swarams were a splendid display of her command over the raga. The rapport between Kruthi and Vittal Rangan was seamless and natural that it felt like two voices in a conversation. The concert progressed with Ramaswami Sivan’s Kadai Kan Vaithennai in Begada, featuring a brisk and lively round of swarams. There was masterful tri-kalam rendition of the line Gowri Raja Rajeshwari. The rhythmic backbone of the concert was provided by vidvan Patri Satish Kumar, and the tani avartanam was a powerhouse of precision and creativity.

Kruthi performed a pallavi in Bageshri (composed by the Malladi Brothers), where she invited the audience to suggest ragas for the ragamalika swaras. This interactive segment showcased her spontaneity and deep musical vocabulary. The concert concluded with a captivating Pahadi tillana by Lalgudi Jayaraman.

Kruthi’s performance was a perfect blend of classicism and modern flair. Her singing isn't just technically strong; it is soulful and deeply moving. With excellent support from the accompanists, the chemistry on stage created a beautiful flow of creativity. She managed her time perfectly, finishing the concert right on schedule while leaving the audience wanting more. 

by

Amritha Saravanan